JINDABYNE celebrated their Australia Day ceremony by awarding accolades to many wonderful citizens who have contributed heavily to the Jindabyne community during their lifetime.
Australia Day ambassador for Jindabyne was Mr Jeremy Jones AM who spoke about his life experiences. Mr Jones is the only person to win both the Australian Huma Rights Medal (2007) and the top NSW Community Harmony Award (2016). He has been in the forefront of developing inter-religious and inter-ethnic cooperation and collaboration. He has been president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and a number of other positions in leading state, national and international Jewish organisations.
Held at the soccer oval at Jindabyne Sports Ground, the setting was perfect for the event and the Jindabyne Lions Club and Nira Windeatt should be praised for all their work to make the event a reality and a success.
Awards were presented to the following:
NSW Local Citizen of the Year Award 2023
Brian Farmer
The NSW Local Citizen of the Year Award for 2023 was presented to Brian Farmer who has inspired many people with his efforts in the Jindabyne community spanning decades.
Brian was a retained fire fighter for over 30 years and is very proud to have been an active member of the Jindabyne Lions Club for over 50 years. He has been involved with the Scouts Activity Centre for decades and been actively associated with Legacy for over 20 years and always helping at the Anzac Day events.
During mornings he can often be found in Jindabyne’s Dudley’s Café conversing at the “Table of Knowledge” with many of his friends. Brian is also a committee member on the Snowy Alpine Heritage Association.
NSW Local Youth Citizen of the Year Award 2023
Lucas Blackmore-Lee
Leading by example and the adage “actions speak louder than words” has never been truer than in the Blackmore – Lee family. Lucas’s mother Helen has been a previous winner of a local Australia Award for her unstinting work at the Snowy Mountains Neighbourhood Centre.
Lucas seems to be following in the family footsteps. In December Lucas was named as the Snowy Mountains Neighbourhood Centre volunteer of the year. This was all done during his HSC year.
As well as helping out the Neighbourhood Centre Lucas has been a positive peer role-model at school particularly with younger students and has volunteered at other community events such as Lake light Sculpture and can be seen happily selling raffle tickets for fundraisers.
NSW Local Environment of the Year Award 2023
Lucas Wilkinson – Keep It Cool
Lucas Wilkinson is Jindabyne born and bred. He has a background in film making in outdoors and action sports and is very well travelled. He is also a passionate skier and snow lover who cares deeply about the great outdoors, especially our beautiful Snowy Mountains.
Lucas started Keep it Cool as a Non-Profit organisation in 2020 to plant trees to help drawdown carbon from the atmosphere which is good for the planet. Planting suitable trees helps to create new habitats for wildlife and beautify the natural environment.
As of May 2022 Keep it Cool planted over 15,000 trees in the Snowy Mountains area in its first two years creating over 150,000 square metres of habitat. This has been done with over 2000 volunteer hours, all organised by Lucas. Every tree plant is grown locally from Monaro Native Tree Nursery. By partnering with likeminded businesses, the cost of the tree, land prep, tree guards and everything else is covered to make sure every tree planted has the best chance of growing and thriving.
With community planting days, Keep it Cool brings people together to get behind a cause that really builds community spirit making our environment better physically and socially. Lucas was overseas and unable to collect his award personally.
NSW Local Youth Sportsperson of the Year Award 2023
Charlotte Wilson
Charlotte is a freestyle mogul skier who has excelled and achieved a lot over the last couple of years in her chosen sport. She was a member of the Australian Mogul Development Team and was awarded an NSW Institute if Sport Scholarship in 2022.
She has represented in her sport at state, national and international level and in 2022 was named as a Snow Australia Emerging Talent which aims to identify, support, and enhance preparation of potential performance athletes. Charlotte has set her sights on 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in South Korea. Charlotte was overseas and her mother Kellie collected the award on her behalf.
NSW Local Sportsperson of the Year Award 2023
Michael Swinney
Mick Swinney is a founding member of the Jindabyne Rugby Union Club established 40 years ago.
Mags, as he is known in the club, is a life member and over the years he has been a player, with over 100 games played, Club President, coached all levels and now holds the position of Rugby Manager and “Club Doer”.
Mick is very proud of his club and can often be found tinkering around at John Connors Oval, fixing problems and making improvements. This oval and club hold a special piece of Mick’s heart. The club currently has approximately 140 junior players and 60 senior players registered. For a township that is predominantly snow sports oriented in the winter months, this is a huge achievement.
Mags is also responsible for encouraging the participation of females in this predominantly male sport. He has coached and managed the Miss Piggies since 2008 and has been a driving force for their inclusion. He also spearheads the club’s involvement in the Kiama Sevens tournament and has continually been a hardworking fundraiser for the club.
NSW Local Community Group of the Year Award 2023
Jindy Pride Connect - Belinda Streete
Belinda has created a unique LGBTQIA+ group for the Snowy Monaro region. Jindy Pride Connect formed in January 2021 to provide a safe space to help support, reduce isolation and build connections in our region. It is a volunteer- led social group that co-ordinates events and raises awareness and promotes inclusion in the community. Members of this group range in age from 13 to 70+ and currently has over 200 members and welcomes friends, family, and allies.
Belinda has invested a lot of positive energy into garnering support for Jindy Pride Connect from volunteers and local businesses in her quest to provide a safe and inclusive place for the LGBTQIA+ community in The Snowy Monaro.
NSW Local Community Event of the Year Award 2023
Jindabyne Man from Snowy River Rodeo – Allan Rowson
Allan is one of those people who continually puts the community and others before himself. His association with the Jindabyne Man from Snowy River Rodeo is just one example.
The annual rodeo has been running since 1943 - almost 80 years. It is a wonderful testament and honour to our high-country heritage. It began in Old Jindabyne well before the dam wall was built. Then it moved next to John Connors Oval at the Jindabyne Sports ground. The event proudly tops the Christmas break entertainment in Jindabyne where thousands of spectators come from far and wide to watch talented cowboys compete.
Al has been a committee stalwart for over 20 years and hasn’t wavered in his commitment to bring a quality and well-run event to our town. He is photographed here also with other members of the committee who all contribute an huge work load for the annual rodeo event.
NSW Local Business of the Year Award 2023
Anthony Green – Out of Bounds Berridale
Anthony came to the area some 25 years ago with his family for his love of the snow and skiing. He worked for a time in his dream job as a ski patroller before his career ended when he was injured and could no longer continue his duties.
As fate would have it Anthony, as well as being a first-class and sought after painter also had culinary qualifications. When his skiing career came to an end, he followed his first passion and devised a plan to open his own restaurant and thus was born “Out of Bounds” Wood Fire Pizzas, in Berridale.
Anthony is fully supported by his lovely wife Jane, and now it its third year, the business has gone from strength to strength and has become a community favourite.
NSW Local Special Achievement of the Year Award 2023
Sheena Perry – Education
Sheena is a bit of a legend around Jindabyne for her association with Jindabyne Central School and the other schools in the area. Unless you have lived under a rock for the past 30 years there is no way, if you have had anything to do with the school you will not have come across Sheena or her work.
Sheena recently retired after 30 teaching and running schools in Cooma, Dalgety and Jindabyne. This involved teaching and management positions including Principal, Acting Principal and Deputy Principal.
Sheena has a passion for snow sport and over the years has set up numerous programs through the school at both Thredbo and Perisher. Many successful snow sports people in Jindabyne can be grateful for her efforts.
Some of Sheena’s most vigorous efforts were directed at helping obtain the new school library, and the new school now being built, a student’s breakfast club and resources for disadvantaged students that needed support. She was also a strong advocate and active participant in the school’s P & C.
